Behind purpose and meaning 1

A man who was unemployed for several months gets a job with public works. He is to paint lines down the center of a rural road. The supervisor tells him he is on probation and that he must stay at or above the set average of two kilometers per day to remain hired. The man agrees to the conditions and starts the next day.

The supervisor checks and finds the man completed four kilometers.

“Great,” he thought, “this man will work out.”

The next day he finds the man only did two kilometers but the supervisor thought, “well he is still at the average and I don’t want him to get discouraged.”

The third day however the man only did one km. and the boss thought, “I need to talk to him.”

The boss pulls the new employee in and says, “Son, you were doing great, the first day you did four kilometers the second day two kilometers but yesterday you only did one kilometer, Why? is there a problem? An injury, equipment failure, anything keeping you from meeting the two km. minimum?”

The man replied “Well, I keep getting farther and farther from the bucket.” 

Some people do their work without thinking.

And worst, some people live their lives without a purpose.

You hear a lot of public speakers harp on the need to know one’s purpose in life. And then you hear a lot of people talk about having meaning in what you do. But I thought about this and so I ask my participants in my seminars this question: “What is the purpose behind your purpose and what is the meaning behind the attainment of meaning?”

Surely purpose and meaning should matter or else how could a book entitled “The Purpose Driven Life” authored by Rick Warren sold so many copies world wide? And people who have read it (me included) would swear that it has opened a brand new perspective for life and living? One thing is sure though. There are many people who are living life without a purpose. These people merely exist but they do not live. 

Do you want to have meaning in life and do you want to experience joy while you are at it? Then consider the following: 

1. YOU START BY DETERMINING YOUR PURPOSE

Why are you here on earth?

What are you good at? Nothing? Don’t believe what your spouse or in-laws say about you. You certainly are good for something. Not knowing your purpose makes you a wondering generality as the famous speaker Zig Ziglar would say. You have to be a meaningful specific. Know what your purpose is, pursue it and you will experience joy in life. 

2. THINK, ACT AND LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR PURPOSE.

You may know your purpose but if you do not live according to your purpose then you will end up frustrated and empty.

Any thought, actions or decisions that will not add value to enhancing your purpose throw them away and don’t even consider them. In other words work on your priorities. Let your actions and schedule reflect your purpose.  

3. WORK YOURSELF TO THE MAX

Never be satisfied with the status quo. Convince yourself that you are just like the rock stars and the divas, you are only as good as your last hit single. Once you settle on your past successes then you become complacent. A life without challenges is boring. And this will leave you unfulfilled.  

These are some of the ways on which we discover joyful living but we will have to complete these two part series tomorrow.

God has a plan for us. Plans for success and not for calamities. This is why we need to understand purpose and meaning and I will explain further tomorrow. 

(Every economic crisis is an equalizing opportunity, attend New Prosperity Forum featuring the rare tandem of Josiah Go and Francis Kong - February 9 in Manila and February 11 in Cebu. Call 412-0034 for details.)